The 49ers are where the Raiders were three years ago – drastically undermanned, in the midst of unrelenting losing, and with Fort Knox-like money under the salary cap. Obviously, the 10-2 Raiders have made the right moves in hiring coach Jack Del Rio, drafting players like Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, and acquiring players like …

With the 49ers back in the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, what better time to take in the scope of the franchise and rank the top five teams over its 66-year history in San Francisco? …

Nine years ago, the 49ers began their rumbling, stumbling, bumbling descent into the wilderness in pathetic fashion.
Head coach Steve Mariucci, fired by John York and Terry Donahue in a clumsy denouement to an awkward power struggle, exited team headq… …

They own no playoff history against each other. Zero. Today’s game will mark the first time the 49ers and Saints have met in the postseason, partly because New Orleans didn’t post one winning record, let alone reach the playoffs, in the franchise’s fir… …

Alex Smith is the kind of man you’d want your daughter to marry.
Jim Tomsula, the 49ers’ effusive defensive-line coach, first delivered that scouting report a year ago, when he briefly stepped into the head-coaching job as Mike Singletary’s replacement… …

Holt, a 12-year NFL veteran who had seven catches for 109 yards and a touchdown as a rookie in the Rams’ win against the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, has noted Crabtree’s improvement this season. After a slow start tied to his surgically repaired foot, Crabtree was on an 89-catch, 1,079-yard pace in the season’s final 11 games. …

As a member of one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses, dubbed “the Greatest Show on Turf,” former Rams wide receiver Torry Holt is an expert on the issues facing record-breaking, pass-happy dome teams when they play outdoors on grass.
It’s a topic of … …

Vic Fangio, the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, wishes that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had stepped in when the Saints signed free-agent running back Darren Sproles in July.
“I can’t believe they got him for the cheap price that they got him for repl… …

It’s the playoffs, so Harbaugh told the 49ers a story about one of his final postseason games, a 20-16 loss at Pittsburgh in the 1995 AFC Championship Game. The Colts lost when wide receiver Aaron Bailey couldn’t secure a catchable Hail Mary pass from Harbaugh in the end zone. …

Two of Jim Harbaugh’s messages to his heavily neophyte playoff team were revealed this week, and they seem, at least superficially, to conflict with each other.
No. 1, as originally described by 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree, is, “Don’t overcook it…. …

Many years have passed since we’ve seen such a disparity between our local NFL teams. They’re flying in opposite directions these days, destinations unknown.
In the season of Cam Newton and Tim Tebow, you’re not so crazy if you think Alex Smith can lea… …

It appears that Operation Pressure Drew Brees will have Ray McDonald operating at close to full strength after the defensive tackle suffered a hamstring injury in San Francisco’s season finale at St. Louis on Jan. 1.
McDonald practiced Wednesday and Th… …

And the 1:30 p.m. kickoff time won’t assist the Niners either, said NFL Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver Torry Holt. The grass at Candlestick Park, which is below sea level, is known to get soggy. But it wasn’t an issue during day games for Holt, a 12-year NFL veteran. …

It appears Operation Pressure Drew Brees will have Ray McDonald operating near full strength after the Niners defensive tackle suffered a hamstring injury in San Francisco’s season finale at St. Louis on Jan. 1. …

The point? Drew Brees will likely put up big stats against San Francisco’s secondary. But as the 49ers’ Alex Smith noted (a bit snappily) this week, there’s more to winning than flinging it for 330 yards. …

In a continuing effort to assist casual bettors and degenerate gamblers alike, we offer this advice: If a “Total Number of Interceptions” prop bet exists for the 49ers-Saints divisional playoff game, take the under and thank Niner Insider with a small (or large) donation from your winnings later. …

As the 49ers prepare to face the New Orleans Saints in their Saturday playoff game, city and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. officials announced Wednesday that they have run several tests to prevent another blackout at Candlestick Park.

Seven months ago, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith had no idea where to find wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
When asked if his top wideout would be attending the player-organized workouts at San Jose State during the lockout, Smith said, “Great question. A… …

(01-11) 20:35 PST — For starters, the 49ers coaching staff messed with Vernon Davis’ feet, asking the Pro Bowl tight end to bring them closer together when he got in his stance.
But that was nothing compared with what they did to his head.
On Wednesd… …